Effect of Eight Weeks of High-Intensity Interval Training Along With Purslane Consumption on Lipid Profile of Rats with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Having physical activity and proper nutrition are very important for preventing Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). The present study aims to investigate the effect of eight weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) along with purslane (Portulaca Oleracea) supplementation on the lipid profile of rats with NAFLD

In this experimental study, 25 male Wistar rats randomly divided into five groups: healthy control, NAFLD control, supplement, HIIT, and HIIT + supplement. To induce NAFLD, rats received a high-fat diet for 12 weeks. The HIIT was performed for eight weeks, five sessions per week. Plasma levels of High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), Triglyceride (TG) and Total Cholesterol (TC) were measured. One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test were used to analyze the data.

Plasma level of TG in the HIIT + supplement group were significantly lower than in the NAFLD control group (P=0.035). The TC level in the supplement (P=0.013) and HIIT +supplement (P=0.001) groups was significantly lower than in the NAFLD control group. The HDL level in the HIIT + supplement group was significantly higher compared to healthy control (P=0.021), NAFLD control (P=0.001), HIIT (P=0.006) and supplement (P=0.018) groups. The LDL level in the HIIT (P=0.01), supplement (P=0.001) and HIIT + supplement (P=0.001) groups was significantly lower than in the NAFLD control group.

It seems that HIIT combined with purslane supplementation can have better effect compared to HIIT and purslane supplementation alone; therefore, this method can be used as a complementary therapy in people with NAFLD.